Veterans may soon no longer have to worry about paying for parking in Portage la Prairie.

Portage la Prairie city council discussed extending free metered parking for all vehicles displaying Manitoba “Veteran" license plates in its committee meeting Monday night. Transportation Committee co-chair Ryan Espey says this idea was brought to council during question period at a recent meeting, as a way to honour our veterans.

"I think all of council can agree it's a good idea and something we should look into," Espey says.

Administration's report to council explains many other municipalities across Canada provide free parking for veterans within their respective limits. The free parking for vehicles identified with a veteran license plate model Portage la Prairie is considering, is also utilized in Brandon, London, Ont., New Westminster, B.C., Coquitlam, B.C., and Port Moody B.C., according to administration's report.

Other forms of parking compensation for veterans utilized by municipalities are explained in the report. Winnipeg provides vehicle owners with veteran license plates a book of meter passes for up to 20 hours of complimentary on-street metered parking. In Hamilton, Ont., veterans over the age of 60 with a veteran plate can be issued a parking permit. Saskatoon, Sask., issues parking permits to veterans if they reside within a 30km radius of the city. And in Calgary, Alta., veterans with valid Alberta plates get a $10 courtesy per month in on-street parking.

“There are some that make it a little more complicated with vouchers and things like that," Espey explains. "But the easy way to do it and not burden our traffic or by-law enforcement is just to say, as long as you have that veteran plate, we're going to not look at not (issuing) any tickets to the car."

Administration's report further explains to obtain a veteran license plate in Manitoba, a person must have served honourably in: The Canadian Forces, an allied force, the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during World War II or the Korean War; the Canadian Armed Forces for at least three years; NATO operations or a UN peacekeeping force as a member of the Canadian Forces; The RCMP or another Canadian police force or allied force.